My Travel Essentials (aka what keeps me grounded when I am all over the place 🌍)
I am naturally quite up in the air: I am a double Libra, creative mind, full of dreams … which also means I can feel totally unrooted when I travel.
Usually, I ground myself through a collection of rituals and small habits that help me feel calm and truly like myself.
Traveling all over the world to teach retreats has given me plenty of time to test and refine exactly what I need to arrive grounded, open, and relaxed.
Because the goal isn’t just to “get back to myself” (which often takes so long that by the time I feel settled, it’s almost time to leave again). Instead, I want to land fully present, ready to enjoy wherever I am from the very first moment.
So these are my non-negotiables: items that bring me back into my body, keep my nervous system steady, and help me land wherever I go.
Some are ancient, some are modern, but all of them are tried & true. (I’ve included the links to the products I use so you can see whether you like them, too.)
My Travel Essentials
Travel Yoga Mat
I don’t go anywhere without a foldable, lightweight, non-slip travel mat. I love starting my day with movement. It gives me an anchor point wherever I land. I’ve also pulled it out for a quick airport stretch when I was faced with a long layover.
Resistance Bands
So easy to pack, so versatile. These resistance bands let me get a solid workout in anywhere, especially because I prefer doing a solo session with YouTube videos rather than a gym sess. My go-to for glutes, legs and arms. They also double as a yoga strap to unwind travel tension.
Tongue Scraper
An ayurvedic classic. I use it every morning to remove gunk and start fresh (energetically and physically). Tongue scraping is a simple mini ritual. It takes less than a minute. When I do it, I feel grounded immediately because my nervous system expects it as part of our daily routine and thanks me quietly.
Shakti Mat
Might seem a bit excessive (and is not ideal if you want to travel super lightly), but this accupressure mat has changed my nervous system. I lie on it for 15-20 minutes before going to sleep. Not only does it signal to my body that we’re about to drift off, it also grounds my nervous system, helps me feel my body, and gently unwinds travel tension (cos it hurts so good).
ReMarkable2
My digital notebook for journaling, planning, and brain dumping. It replaces all the paper clutter and helps me stay in touch with myself. A grounding ritual I love before going to sleep.
I invested in my ReMarkable when I had moved across the globe for the first time (and left all my journals, teacher training notes, and favourite books at home). I knew I’d move again (and have since then twice) and am deeply grateful to be carrying the contents of my trainings, classes, heart, and brain with me at all times.
If you’re “just” traveling and have a home base that likely won’t change for the foreseeable future, a simple journal will help you close mental loops before bed just as effectively.
DIY Travel Bottles
These BPA-free travel bottles are a lifesaver when it comes to bringing my ayurvedic rituals on the road. I use them to bring:
Lemon juice (it goes into the fridge as soon as you arrive and kicks off morning digestion, mixed with a little water after tongue scraping)
Sesame Oil (for ayurvedic body massage before I work out, nourishes the skin through exercise, and the shower after.)
Rosemary Oil (for ayurvedic scalp massage, and nervous system care before washing my hair. Just the smell transports me to heaven.)
Silk Sleep Mask
Have you heard about weighted blankets? My sleep mask feels like just that for my eyes. The gentle pressure helps me unwind, blocking the light supports my circadian rhythm and signals to my body that it’s time to sleep (even when I’m wide awake at 3 am in a new city).
My JBL Go 3
If you’ve practiced yoga with me, you know how important the right playlist is to curate an experience. This tiny, light, and portable speaker travels with me anywhere, helps me tune up in the morning, and wind down in the evening. It helps me create a sense of home just through music, fits into any pocket, and lasts forever.
Why this matters…
It’s easy to lose yourself on the road. I went through times of craving the comfort of my routines and wishing to be back home instead of being present with what is. I figured if I bring what I miss most, I feel more myself and can deeply enjoy what is around me and move through the world from a place of steadiness. They are small-ish things, but make the biggest difference!
If you’re craving more grounding, clarity, and nervous system support (on or off the road) you might love my retreats, classes, or 1:1 coaching.
Explore more here, or reach out via the contact form if you’re curious about working together.
The links above are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my work!
With love, Paula
